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(11) | EP 2 803 566 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Floating garment |
| (57) The invention relates to a garment (6) made up of floating multilayer textile (1),
said garment (6) comprising a central portion (61) for supporting the trunk, a top
portion (60) for supporting the neck, said multilayer textile (1) comprising at least
one outer sheet (2), at least one intermediate sheet (3) and at least one inner sheet
(4), said garment (6) being characterized in that said intermediate sheet (3) of said
floating multilayer textile (1) consists of a multilayer membrane, wherein at least
50% of said membrane is made up of air, in that said textile (1) is provided with
between 3g to 5g of said intermediate sheet (3) for each 1 kg of weight to support
in water, and in that the membrane material provided for the intermediate sheet (3)
at said central portion (61) of said garment (6), is distributed so that between 60%
and 80% is arranged in the front side of said central portion (61) and between 40%
and 20% is arranged in the rear side of said central portion (61).
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[0002] More particularly, the invention concerns garments manufactured by a floating multilayer textile, able supporting and upturning the body in such a way that face is faced upward, as provided by exiting rules.
[0003] The present invention can be particularly applied to either to work garments for water environments (industrial fishing, sport fishing, water activities, first aid, ecc.), and to other activities carried out in said environments.
[0004] At present, those carrying out activities, such as work, sport or fun, close to or on water environments wear floating elements, either jacket, ring buoy or like. Said elements permit floating in case of fall into the water, preventing drowning risks. Particularly, in case of work activities, it is compulsory wearing on said elements, permitting upturning the body so as the face is faced upward. Said floating elements must fulfill ISO 12402 standards.
[0005] However, said floating elements are rather bulky and heavy, making it more difficult carrying out the activities. Just due to the bulkiness and weight of said elements, many people decide not to wear on them to move more freely. This clearly involves serious risks in case of falling into the water. Further, being it difficult foreseeing accidental events, it is difficult wearing them at proper time.
[0006] Therefore, it is object of the present invention that of manufacturing floating garments which are also light and with reduced dimensions, permitting advantageously easing activities in water environments.
[0007] Further object of the invention is that of obtaining floating garments able upturning the body in case of fall into the water, so as to have the face faced upward.
[0008] Another object of the present invention is that of preventing necessity of wearing secondary safety elements, which are easily forgotten.
[0011] Particularly the floating garment is made up of floating multilayer textile, said garment comprising a central portion to support the trunk, a top portion to support the neck, said multilayer textile comprising at least one outer sheet, at least one intermediate sheet and at least one inner sheet, said garment being characterized in that said at least one intermediate sheet of said floating multilayer textile consists of a multilayer membrane, in particular made ip of closed-cell polyethylene, wherein at least 50% of said membrane is made up of air, in that said textile is provided with between 3g to 5g of said intermediate sheet for each 1 kg of weight to support in water, and in that the membrane material provided for the intermediate sheet at said central portion of said garment, is distributed so that between 60% and 80% is arranged in the front side of said central portion and between 40% and 20% is arranged in the rear side of said central portion.
[0012] Further said membrane material provided for said intermediate sheet at said central portion of said garment, can be distributed so that the 70% is arranged in said front part of said central portion and the 30% is arranged in said rear part of said central portion.
moreover, said membrane material provided for said intermediate sheet can be equally distributed at said top portion of said garment.
[0013] In particular, said garment can further comprise a lower portion to support the legs and the membrane material provided for said intermediate sheet can be equally distributed at said lower portion of said garment.
[0014] Further each layer of said membrane of said intermediate sheet of said textile can have a thickness of at least 0.6 mm.
[0015] Moreover said membrane can be made up of closed-cell polyethylene, or of a material having equivalent characteristics.
[0016] Still, at least 50% of said membrane of said intermediate sheet of said textile can be made of air, and preferably over 97% of said membrane can be made of air.
[0017] Furthermore, said membrane of said intermediate sheet of said textile can have buoyancy features equivalent to 63N, preferably it can have thermal insulation features equivalent to 0.04 W/m-k and even more preferably 1 m2 of said membrane can have a weight of 16 g.
[0018] Furthermore, said outer sheet and/or said inner sheet of said textile can be made up of hydro-breathable or refractive material, or flame retardant material, or windproof material, or waterproof material.
[0020] The invention will be now described for illustrative but not limitative purposes with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein:
figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of textile according to the invention;
figure 2 shows a front view of a garment with a first embodiment of textile according to the invention;
figure 3 shows a front and rear view of a garment with a second embodiment of textile according to the invention;
figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of textile according to the invention; and
figure 5 shows a front view of a garment with a fourth embodiment of textile according to the invention.
[0021] A membrane thick 0.6 mm is available on the market, comprised of closed cell polyethylene comprising more than 97% of air. Thanks to its cellular structure composition, said membrane has optimum floating (63N), thermal insulation (0.04 W/m-K) and lightness (16 g/m2) features.
[0022] Present invention suggests realization of a floating multilayer textile 1 using said membrane as an intermediate sheet 3, placing the membrane between an outer sheet 2 and an inner sheet 4, comprised of different materials. A first embodiment is shown in figure 1, wherein outer sheet 2 material is a hydro-breathable material, and inner sheet 4 is comprised of lining.
[0023] As already said, type of selected material for outer sheet 2 and inner sheet 4 depends on final use of the floating multilayer textile 1. They can be refractive materials, or flame retardant materials, or windproof materials, or waterproof materials, ecc..
[0024] Said floating multilayer textile 1 has advantageous floating features, and thus it can be used for manufacturing garments, to be preferably close to water environments.
[0025] Particularly, according to the invention, 5g of membrane intermediate sheets 3 distributed into the garment every 1 kg of weight of the user are necessary for supporting the body.
[0026] Generally speaking, membrane can give floating function placing 3g for every 1 kg to be supported along the garment 6. In case 4g of membrane for each kg are provided, good safety condition can be obtained.
[0027] Furthermore, in order to ensure an advantageous support and upturning of body in position provided by rules, i.e. with head faced upward, it is necessary a different distribution of membrane intermediate sheets 3.
[0028] Making reference to figure 2, it is observed that an equivalent distribution of membrane close the neck 60, legs 62 and trunk 61 is necessary for a proper support of the body, i.e. a distribution of 70% of membrane on the front part of the garment 6 and 30% on the rear part of the garment 6.
[0029] Said distribution of membrane as intermediate sheet 3 along the garment 6 permits upturning the body in case of fall within the water (regardless it is salty or fresh water), so as to have the face faced toward the sky and supporting the body with an inclination of about 45°.
[0030] Said general rules can be applied to different types of garments, some embodiments of which are shown in figures 3 - 5.
[0031] The present invention has been described for illustrative, but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is understood that variations and/or modifications can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope, as defined in the enclosed claims.
1. Garment (6) made up of floating multilayer textile (1), said garment (6) comprising
a central portion (61) to support the trunk, a top portion (60) to support the neck,
said multilayer textile (1) comprising at least one outer sheet (2), at least one
intermediate sheet (3) and at least one inner sheet (4), said garment (6) being characterized in that said at least one intermediate sheet (3) of said floating multilayer textile (1)
consists of a multilayer membrane, wherein at least 50% of said membrane is made up
of air, in that said textile (1) is provided with between 3g to 5g of said intermediate sheet (3)
for each 1 kg of weight to support in water, and in that the membrane material provided for the intermediate sheet (3) at said central portion
(61) of said garment (6), is distributed so that between 60% and 80% is arranged in
the front side of said central portion (61) and between 40% and 20% is arranged in
the rear side of said central portion (61).
2. Garment (6) according to claim 1, characterized in that said membrane material provided for said intermediate sheet (3) at said central portion
(61) of said garment (6), is distributed so that the 70% is arranged in said front
part of said central portion (61) and the 30% is arranged in said rear part of said
central portion (61).
3. Garment (6) according to any one of the claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said membrane material provided for said intermediate sheet (3) is equally distributed
at said top portion (60) of said garment (6).
4. Garment (6) according to any one of the claims 1 - 3, characterized in further comprising a lower portion (62) to support the legs and in that the membrane material provided for said intermediate sheet (3) is equally distributed
at said lower portion (62) of said garment (6).
5. Garment (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each layer of said membrane of said intermediate sheet (3) of said textile (1) has
a thickness of at least 0.6 mm.
6. Garment (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said membrane of said intermediate sheet (3) of said textile (1) is made up of closed-cell
polyethylene.
7. Garment (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that over 97% of said membrane of said intermediate sheet (3) of said textile (1) is made
up of air.
8. Garment (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said membrane of said intermediate sheet (3) of said textile (1) has buoyancy features
equivalent to 63N.
9. Garment (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said membrane of said intermediate sheet (3) of said textile (1) has thermal insulation
features equivalent to 0.04 W/m-k.
10. Garment (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that 1 m2 of said membrane of said intermediate sheet (3) of said textile (1) has a weight
of 16 g.
11. Garment (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said outer sheet (2) and/or said inner sheet (4) of said textile (1) are made up
of hydro-breathable or refractive material, or flame retardant material, or windproof
material, or waterproof material.
12. Garment (6) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said inner sheet (4) of said textile (1) is made up of lining.